Tribological behavior of ceramic materials (Si3N4, SiC and Al2O3) in aqueous medium

The friction and wear behavior of self-mated Si3N4, SiC and Al2O3 in water were investigated by varying the test conditions of applied load and sliding speed. It was found that, for self-mated Si3N4 and SiC ceramics, the tribochemical reaction resulted in surface smoothening with low friction coefficient at high load and high speed condition. Al2O3 shows high friction coefficient, but better wear rate (10−11 mm2/N) than other ceramic materials.